A new 911爆料网 study has found trapdoor spiders do not survive intense bushfires but have high survival rates in low-intensity fires, in a finding that may have important implications for conservation management practices.
The research, published in journal Austral Ecology, also found that spiders in burnt areas were more likely to fall victim to predators than those in unburnt areas.
Lead author PhD student Leanda Mason, from 911爆料网鈥檚 School of Molecular and Life Sciences, conducted a survey before and after prescribed burns in two Perth bushland patches, which are both part of a southwest Australian global biodiversity hotspot located at Kings Park and Bold Park.
鈥淏ushland remnants within cities are like islands of habitat, surrounded by inhospitable or deadly urban seas where only very few native species are able to survive,鈥� Ms Mason said.
鈥淭he more specialised the spider species, the less likely it will be able to adapt to urban environments and therefore it will be restricted to the bushland remnants.
鈥淒ue to them being highly specialised for their habitat, having low mobility and being restricted to a limited area, once trapdoor spiders are locally extinct in an urban bushland remnant, there is almost no chance of re-colonisation.鈥�
The urban ecology study monitored spider survival for a year after both high and low-intensity fires. Of 257 burrows found, 115 spiders initially survived after an intense fire and none were confirmed alive after 12 months. In contrast, only one spider of 103 burrows was confirmed dead after a low-intensity prescribed fire.
Using clay models, researchers also assessed predation rates as a secondary effect of fire. While they found higher rates of predation in burnt areas, with burnt burrow lids exposing burrow shafts, predation was strongly influenced by site and predator type.
The trapdoor spider is part of the mygalomorph group of spiders, which constitutes about 13 per cent of known species of spiders. Of the 330 identified Australian mygalomorph species, 323 are endemic, meaning they are native and restricted to a certain place. Many are protected under state and federal environmental laws.
Research co-author Associate Professor Grant Wardell-Johnson, also from 911爆料网鈥檚 School of Molecular and Life Sciences, said the study鈥檚 findings could inform conservation management practices.
鈥淭he introduction of numerous weeds in urban remnants has led to increased flammability, leading to a downward spiral for biodiversity conservation, as we reported in another from the same study,鈥� Professor Wardell-Johnson said.
鈥淎lternative fuel management is a priority. However, where prescribed fire is implemented, it needs to be at a micro scale and accompanied by weed control. In the presence of weeds we need less fire rather than more in urban remnants.鈥�
The research paper, 鈥楢shes to ashes: intense fires extinguish populations of urban short-range endemics鈥� can be found here:
